Bahrain Links Explosive Materials from Tuesday's Bombing to Iran

Bahrain's state news agency reports that the explosives used in the bombing on Tuesday in the Sitra area of Bahrain are similar to explosives that were "smuggled from Iran" and recently discovered and seized by Bahraini police. Bahrain announced on Saturday that it had uncovered and neutralized "a plot to smuggle weapons and explosives from Iran to Bahrain" and arrested two individuals in this regard. Iran has denied the allegations of smuggling weapons and explosives from its territory to Bahrain, with the Iranian Foreign Minister stating that "Bahrain's claims are absolutely untrue." In a recent development, however, according to Reuters and Bahrain's state news agency, Bahraini officials now declare that the materials used in the explosion on Tuesday, August 6, are "similar" to those discovered from the two individuals accused of smuggling weapons from Iran. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior states that several suspects have been identified in connection with the Sitra bombing, some of whom have also been arrested. The Ministry of Interior did not provide further details about these arrests. The explosion on Tuesday occurred on Sitra Island, south of Bahrain's capital, in front of a girls' school in the Shiite-majority village of Sitra, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and injuring six others. The Sitra area has been a hotspot of unrest in Bahrain, having previously witnessed clashes between Shiite protesters and the Sunni-led government forces. Marzieh Afkham, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, condemned the bombing in the Sitra area of Bahrain on Wednesday, stating that "the main challenge in the region is terrorism and extremism, and it is necessary for all countries in the region to prioritize combating the sources of this threat in their security policies." According to ISNA news agency, Ms. Afkham also referred to the allegations related to this bombing as "propaganda diversions" and dismissed them. The relationship between Tehran and Manama, which has faced ups and downs, has once again become tense. In recent days, statements by Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, asserting that Iran will not abandon its "friends" in countries like Bahrain, prompted an official reaction from Manama. Tehran is accused of supporting a group of mainly Shiite opposition in Bahrain, a country where power is predominantly held by Sunnis. Bahrain labeled Khamenei's recent statements as interference in its affairs and shortly thereafter summoned its ambassador for consultations from Tehran. In this context, the Saudi Foreign Minister's criticism of Tehran's "aggressive rhetoric" reflects the backdrop of Zarif's visit to Arab countries in the region. Tehran deemed Bahrain's accusation of "arms smuggling" as "counterproductive." Bahrain recalled its ambassador from Tehran.